The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-05-07
FENCE-RAil- TALK.


Practical Advice Regarding the seieetion
and Preparation Of Timber.
Hickory, and other woods likely to be
eaten by worms, should be cut when
the bark will peel off; other woods,
particularly the oaks, should be cut in
winter. As a general rule trees which
have died do not make 80 durable rails
rs those cut when alive. It scarcely
pays to make rails Of dead "pin" oak,
though It makes good rails IL cut alive
Timber from very rich soil makes less
durable rails than that from poor soil
Also timber from northern slope
makes more durable rails than from q
southern slope. This comparison refers
to trees Of the same sort, as hickory
with hickory, for the best rail timber
does not grow at all on barren land
The heart-wood lasts longer than the
ssp-wood, and the best plan is so to
split the log as to distribute the two as
near as may be among the rails. The
all-sapwood rail will last only short
time; if put near the top of the fence it
may be replaced with little trouble
when it gives out. If the rail, half or
more of heart-wood, be laid in the
fence with the heart-wood up. its DUR
ability will be measured by the dur
ability of the heart-wood. Men who
do not understand the art of making
rails, quarter logs, then split rail from
the heart-wood of each quarter, and
then half or third the remaining part.
This makes from each quarter rail all
of heart-wood and two or three mostly
OF sap-a bad arrangement. It would
be better to make four rails by splitting
altogether through from the bark to the
heart, though the rails would not be of
so neat form.
| When very large logs are split, how
ever, it is necessary to take out a heart
rail; and these rails are to be put in the
bottom of the fence. When log is
halved, it may be easier to split the rails
off one by one; the wedge is first driven
in at the middle of the rail; then wedge
on either side, midway between it and
the ends of the log. These wedges must
be set little back of the desired margin
of the rail, as the crack will not follow
the grain of the wood, but tend toward
the edge. Better rails are made with
less work by using more and smaller
wedges. 1t is easier to drive two wedges
than one large enough to do the same
work. 1t is impossible to have rails Of
she same thickness throughout. Those
largest at the ends should be put in the
bottom, for there the ends are the first
to give way; while those largest in the
middle should be placed near the top of
the fence, as there the greatest strain is
on the middle of the rails. If the rails
are for post-and-rail fence, in which
lemons are cut on the ends of the rails,
avoid knots on the ends, for knots
weaken. 1t is folly to put rails of some
kinds of timber on the ground in y
Virginia wormfence, or next to the
ground in a post-and-rail fence. Thus
red elm makes very durable rail for
off the ground but few will decay
sooner on the ground.
This must be taken into account in
making the rails. for, in the Virginia
wornl-fencc, for example, the bottom
and top rails should be the largest, the
intermediate rails smaller and gradu-
ally increasing in size toward the top
of the fence. Hence in splitting timber
that lasts we'll on the ground, enough
large rails should be made for the bot
tom course and the remainder small,
for the courses just above; while OF
| tinhar that soon ,.ots m tho rrro,,rd Il
make enough large rails for the top
riders and the rest somewhat smaller,
for the courses just below. Some logs
will so split that there will be many
slivers on the surfaces of the rails.
These slivers should be cut off, not only
that the rails may be moro agreeable
to handle, but also because the air and
sun do not get under the slivers and as
a result the wood rots there and worms
hide in these places. Some men cut of
limbs an inch or more from the trunk,
leaving pieces that make the rails dis
agreeable to handle. 1t is just as easy
to cut off branch close eup to the trunk.
If there is snow on the ground, lay two
or more large limbs for the tree to fall
on. If your wedges won't draw make
a fire and heat them. A heavy maui is
more economical of your strength than
light one, results considered. Have
the handle so large that it will not
cramp the hands. and yet not perfectly
rigid. Some tlexibility lessons the re-
coil. Stack up the rails on a stump to
season until needed. NJ. Statl, IN,
N. y Tribune.